I have recently interviewed for a job working in the non-profit industry focused on improving urban education in Chicago using eLearning solutions, specifically web-based collaborative environments that offer students and mentors a unique opportunity to track their activities through time to evaluate progress.
Given the opportunity to transform the web-presence of a large or small academic institution the first thing I would do is install Google Apps for Educators on the local servers, which I believe will emerge as the industry standard for web-based collaborative learning experiences.
Google has an entire division focused on developing online tools for educators to make the classroom environment more engaging and valuable.One very powerful concept that I believe to be under-appreciated by educators, whether it be at the elementary, secondary, or post-graduate levels, is that of the "digital native", which is the emerging generation of internet users that are drawn instinctively to the internet to find solutions to all types of problems and information needs. By harnessing the tools available from Google for managing large eLearning experiences on a local server, educators from elementary to post-graduate levels will have top of the line content management solutions driving the learning process and keeping students engaged.
Given the opportunity to transform the web-presence of a large or small academic institution the first thing I would do is install Google Apps for Educators on the local servers, which I believe will emerge as the industry standard for web-based collaborative learning experiences.
- I suggest Google's new local service because in my opinion it has the best overall package for users, and offers every tool necessary to create easily tracked and evaluated interaction between teacher and subject. Details on the capabilities of the software suite can be found here.
- The education specific suite also has a lively online discussion group that is used by developers, librarians and other educators to share tips.
- Infinite Thinking Machine is a Google sponsored blog for educators and has been one of the driving forces behind my thinking on eLearning.
- Establishing a good working relationship with the internet's best search engine offers great opportunity to optimize the center's websites and blogs to maximize its web presence and internet traffic. Google Grants is the current project the company offers non-profit organizations to increase their exposure in their AdSense online advertising program.
Google has an entire division focused on developing online tools for educators to make the classroom environment more engaging and valuable.One very powerful concept that I believe to be under-appreciated by educators, whether it be at the elementary, secondary, or post-graduate levels, is that of the "digital native", which is the emerging generation of internet users that are drawn instinctively to the internet to find solutions to all types of problems and information needs. By harnessing the tools available from Google for managing large eLearning experiences on a local server, educators from elementary to post-graduate levels will have top of the line content management solutions driving the learning process and keeping students engaged.
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